March 20, 2008
Chris Keall of PC World NZ writes, "My personal theory is that any major security software, if kept up-to-date, is going to stop any virus or malware outbreak, since all the companies share fixes within hours."
If true, this would be great. The reality, however, is far less rosy. With ten thousand or so new malware requiring processing each day, no amount of sharing will speed things up. Further, with threats moving to the web, discovering which malware needs immediate attention is becoming increasingly problematic for vendors which often do not have good visibility in this area. Brian Krebs of the Washington Post writes about this challenge in "Anti-Virus Firms Scrambling to Keep Up".
Certainly, however, antivirus vendors are still quite good at their core competency: detecting known viruses. And for this reason alone, antivirus software remains the most viable detection technology available to the average consumer. But it's the unknown threat, the ten thousand or so new samples per day, that create the biggest headache, given that today's malware is often focused on identity theft. Even a single infector bypassing antivirus software can cause a lifetime of harm to its victim.
In light of this, perhaps one of the most important adjuncts to antivirus software is to take measures to protect your identity.
Identity Theft Protection
Various companies offer monitoring and fraud protection services. Three of the best known are LifeLock, LoudSiren, and TrustedID. The plans vary, but the gist of each is to place fraud alerts on your credit profile, remove your name from prepaid credit card offers, and notify you personally if anyone tries to establish credit in your name. Costs of the service can range from $10 to $25 USD per month.
Of course, you can do all of this for free, or take the far simpler route and pay a small fee to have a credit freeze placed on your record. A special pin is used for identification purposes, so if you need to lift the freeze to apply for a mortgage, finance a new car, or sign up for a new credit card, you can. For details on free steps to protect yourself from identity theft, including putting a freeze on your account, see Ten Tips to Protect Against Identity Theft.
